Portable water heater



0d. 26, 1937. J. L. TONE PORTABLE WATER HEATER Filed septQ 12, 1935 l 'uff' u 1.11111, wnxavv.

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates in its broader aspects to power producing apparatus or units and more particularly to a portable assemblage adapted for the operation of what may be classified as domestic heating, cooling or lighting devices, and analogous means or apparatus. More specifically the assemblage to be hereinafter described relates to a portable water heater for household and analogous use; or, for use in places where hotwater is not provided such as in hotel rooms equipped with running water service only; a1- though by detaching the heater unit, the remainder of the assemblage can be employed for operating suitable means for cooling or freezing purposes; or for illuminating purposes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a compact assemblage which when coupled to a conventional cold water outlet or a spigot, and the water is turned on, automatically generates the necessary current for operating a heater. Another object is to provide an assemblage of the type indicated whichl is adapted for heating water proportionately with the flow thereof through the power producing unit thereof.

A further object is the provision of a portable assemblage of the type indicated which includes a rotor, operable by the running water, and adapted to actuate a generator of electric current for heating a resistance coil entwined about a spiralized water heating tube.

A still further object is to provide a water heating assemblage of the character specified, which is simple to construct, reliable and efficient in action, comparatively compact in size, readily set up for use, and just as easily disassembled for package and transportation in a suitcase or other receptacle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings, and nally claimed; it being understood that various changes in the details of construction and other applications or combinations of the related parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of said invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. I is a broken assembly elevation of a portable water heater embodying the present invention.

Fig. II is side elevation of the same.

Fig. III is a vertical section taken approximately as indicated by the arrows III- III on Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a section on the plane designated IV-IV in Fig. III; and

Fig. V is a section taken substantially as indicated by the arrowed plane V-V also in Fig. III.

In all the views corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters.

Referring more in detail to the drawing the novel portable water heater therein illustrated comprises a power unit I, a generator of electric energy or current 2, and a heater unit 3.

The power unit I preferably consists of a cylinder 4 having end closures 5 suitably secured to flanges 6 on said cylinder with interposition of appropriate gaskets to prevent leakage. Integral with'the end closures 5 are housings 1 for ball bearings 8 affording rotative support for a drive shaft 9, with a fly-Wheel I0 fixed to one end and having its other end squared, or otherwise shaped, at I I for attachment thereto, as by means of a coupler I2 threadedly engaged on an extension I3 of the associated housing 1, of one end of a flexible shaft I4, the other end of said shaft being similarly connected by a coupler I5 to the shaft I6 of the electric current generator 2. Conventional packing glands 9' are fitted around the shaft 9 to prevent ingress of water to the bearings 8, as readily understandable.

Suitably secured on the drive-shaft 9 within the cylinder 4 is a cupped rotor I1, the cups I8 whereof are tangentially directed relative to the axis of rotation, and adapted for filling with water by way of an inlet I9, tted with a cupped connector 20, in turn adapted for frictional engagement on the spout 2| of a conventional water-service spigot 22. In order to support the power unit I in engagement with the spigot spout 2 I, said unit is provided with loops 23 for application thereto of a flexible support or belt 24 provided with a fastener 25, whereby the unit I is operatively connected to the spigot 22, in an obvious manner.

Integral with the power unit I is a projecting bracket 26 affording removable connection for the heater unit 3. This unit 3 preferably consists of a casing 21 with inset end closures 28, and having a thermo-insulating liner 29 to preclude escape of heat therefrom. Centrally within the casing 21 is a spiral water coil 30 having one end 3| connected by an elbow coupler 32, to the flow outlet 33 from the power unit I, while its other end 34 projects through the thermo-insulated bottom of said casing, as a discharge for the heated Water.

'I'he spiralized portion of the Water coil 3l) is preferably encased in a suitable body of heat conducting material, such as a comparatively stout cylinder 35 of compressed asbestos or analogous substance, about and through which is appropriately entwined a resistance or heater elementY 36, the terminals 31 whereof are appropriately bridged to a pronged-'outlet or current connector 38 on the upper wall of the heater casing 21. Adapted for plug application to the pronged outlet 38 is a socket 39 at one end of a conductor cable 40; the other end of said cable being attached to the brush-holder lll of the generator 2, whereby current produced by the latter is transmitted to the resistance or heater element 36 in a clearly apparent manner'needing no further explanation herein. Y

42 is a conventional mounting in the heater casing 21 for bridging the ends of the resistance 33 incu'rrent conducting relation with the prong outlet wires 31, all in accordance with'practice well known in the art. v

From the foregoing the operation of the im- YYproved portable water or other liquid heater will casing having a cylinder of insulating material therein, the sides and ends thereof being spaced from the adjacent walls of the casing, a coiled water conducting tube vembedded in the` cylinder and having one terminal lixed in one wall of the casing and constituting a waterrinlet, and itsY other terminal fixed in another wall of the casing and constitutingra water outlet, said terminals serving to rigidly support the cylinder spaced from the walls of the casing, and an electrically heated resistance coil entwined about the cylinder and in the bore thereof.

JfULIUs L. STONE; 

